On August 16, Sunderland’s eight-year journey back to the top tier of English football ended. The Stadium of Light rattled as Mackems poured in to cheer on the Black Cats in their 3–0 rout of West Ham.
_The Players’ Tribune_ was granted access to follow captain Granit Xhaka, Luke O’Nien and Chris Rigg, along with 48,700-plus fans through training and the events of the weekend to showcase just what this occasion means for the club, the city and the people who have carried Sunderland through its most difficult years.